Swazi champs lie in wait for Pirates

The draws for both the Caf Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup – which kick off at the end of November – have been delayed but leaks say Orlando Pirates will meet Swazi opposition and Mamelodi Sundowns have been given a bye.

The Confederation of African Football had planned to release the pairings for the first two knockout rounds last Saturday but delayed them as it sought clarification over the possibility that Morocco might have to change its entrants.

This depended on the outcome of the upcoming Confederation Cup final between Raja Casablanca and AS Vita Club of Democratic Republic of Congo.

That clarification will come from Caf’s emergency committee in coming days, but it has meant a wait for the draw.

The word “draw” is perhaps the wrong term because it is tradition that pairings for the early knockout rounds in the two annual Caf competitions are worked out in committee.

This is so pairings are made with geographical considerations a priority. Costs are kept down as clubs are paired with teams from nearby countries.

The “draw” is therefore the work of officials in the competitions department at Caf HQ in Cairo and is then massaged and modified at the meeting of the Caf Inter-Clubs Committee.

There was such a meeting in Marrakesh last week‚ but members kicked a decision on Morocco upstairs to the emergency committee.

But leaks from the Marrakesh meeting said that in the Champions League Pirates have been pitted against Swazi champions Mbabane Swallows while Sundowns have been handed a first-round bye.

There was‚ however‚ no word on the possible fate of Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs in the Confed Cup.